Learn › C7 Chord Inversions: All Four Positions
New Released in April 2026
C7 Chord Inversions: All Four Positions
To invert C7, move the lowest note up an octave: C E G Bb becomes E G Bb C, then G Bb C E, then Bb C E G. Learn to spot each position at a glance, then use the nearest one to move between chords.
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C dominant 7th chord: all four inversions
The lowest note names the position; the chord is still C7.
Root position: C E G Bb
1st inversion: E G Bb C
2nd inversion: G Bb C E
3rd inversion: Bb C E G
- Root position: starts on C, a white key; black keys: Bb
- 1st inversion: starts on E, a white key; black keys: Bb
- 2nd inversion: starts on G, a white key; black keys: Bb
- 3rd inversion: starts on Bb, a black key; black keys: Bb
Spot each C7 inversion in one look
One rule: find the pair of neighbouring notes. Its place tells you the inversion, and its upper note is the root.
| Position | Bass | Name | Figured bass | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | C | C7 | 7 | no neighbours: four notes evenly stacked (major 3rd + minor 3rd + minor 3rd) |
| 1st inversion | E | C7/E | 6/5 | neighbours at the top (minor 3rd + minor 3rd + major 2nd) |
| 2nd inversion | G | C7/G | 4/3 | neighbours in the middle (minor 3rd + major 2nd + major 3rd) |
| 3rd inversion | Bb | C7/Bb | 4/2 | neighbours at the bottom (major 2nd + major 3rd + minor 3rd) |
C7 inversions: which fingers
| Position | Right hand | Left hand |
|---|---|---|
| Root position (C E G Bb) | 1-2-3-5 | 5-3-2-1 |
| 1st inversion (E G Bb C) | 1-2-3-5 | 5-3-2-1 |
| 2nd inversion (G Bb C E) | 1-2-3-5 | 5-3-2-1 |
| 3rd inversion (Bb C E G) | 1-2-3-5 | 5-3-2-1 |
Four notes, four fingers: 1-2-3-5 in the right hand and 5-3-2-1 in the left work in every position.
C7 in a ii-V-I with inversions: Gm7 → C7 → Fmaj7
Each chord uses the position nearest to the one before, so the hand barely moves and most notes step by one or two keys.
- From Gm7 to C7: Bb stays, D → C, F → E, G stays.
- From C7 to Fmaj7: Bb → A, C stays, E stays, G → F.
Practise C7 in every position
ChordRunner accepts every voicing, so you can drill all four positions of C7 between other chords. MIDI keyboard or microphone.
Play the demoCommon questions
How many inversions does C7 have?
Four positions in total, because it has four notes: root position plus three inversions, C7/E, C7/G and C7/Bb.
How do I recognise the 3rd inversion of C7?
The seventh, Bb, is in the bass and sits right next to the root C above it: the pair of neighbouring notes is at the bottom.
Can I practise C7 inversions with a MIDI keyboard or microphone?
Yes. ChordRunner detects a USB MIDI keyboard automatically and also hears a piano through the microphone; every inversion of C7 counts.
Your instrument is the controller.
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
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